For those with a little creative flair, the possibilities are endless. Origami, whittling, flower pressing and jewellery making to name a few. One possibility that is becoming very popular though is DIY bookbinding. What is it?

In a nutshell it is the art of binding and finishing books. You can buy DIY bookbinding equipment, including made to measure bookbinders, from specialist suppliers or through the internet – any quick search will bring up a list of companies who sell this equipment.

It takes a little practise but patience and perseverance go a long way towards the result in the early days and it does get easier as you go on. As you start to see the results you will be encouraged to try more ambitious projects, such as leather binding or Japanese binding.

It really is an art and hand bound books make great presents at Christmas, so they can also be a money saver. Some carefully bound blank pages in leather or a textured material will make a thoughtful present at any time.

When you are still practising start off with cheaper material, but as you gain more experience, move to more richly decorated covers such as silk, leather, flock or embroidery. You can buy them relatively inexpensively, but the finished product looks professional and exclusive – a million dollars!